News from UML for Week of April 22

April 22, 2008: This is a notice of upcoming events, photo opportunities and story ideas at UMass Lowell, compiled by the Office of Public Affairs, 978-934-3224. For more stories on UML, visit www.uml.eduand click on “UML in the News.” Please note, contact names below are for the media and are not intended to be published.

Click on the following links to learn what else is going on at UMass Lowell:

What: Keith B. Mitchell, assistant professor of English at UMass Lowell, will present “To Kill a Mockingbird and the Southern Gothic Tradition.” During the program, being held as part of the Chelmsford Public Library’s “One Book Chelmsford” 2008 effort, Mitchell will discuss Southern literature from William Faulkner to Eudora Welty to the works of recent writers like William Gay. Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” will also be a focus.

What: Well-known UMass Lowell faculty and staff will be paired with members of the UML Ballroom Club to perform a variety of dances from the tango to the cha cha. Participants have trained for the event for seven weeks, learning the choreography, movement, style and character of each dance. Admission is free for UML students and $10 for all others. For more, check out www.umlballroom.org/dwts.

What: UMass Lowell’s annual Spring Carnival kicks off on Thursday. Events open to the public include River Hawks baseball against the Bulldogs of Bryant University at 6 p.m. at LeLacheur Park; admission is free. Thursday night at 8:30, comedian Pablo Francisco will perform at the Campus Recreation Center; tickets are $8 for students and $20 for the public (check out www.umltickets.com). Friday starting at 12:30 p.m., there will be carnival attractions at South Campus Field, including a battle of the bands, rock-wall climbing, games and more; students get in free and can bring guests for $5 each.

What: Those with new medical device ideas will hear about M2D2’s capacity to assist them in commercializing new medical device products. M2D2 ߝ the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center, a joint project of the UMass Lowell and Worcester campuses ߝ provides assistance with prototype development and manufacturing, as well as clinical studies, and can partner with small or budding businesses on federal STTR grant applications. This event is co-hosted by WestMED Regional Technology Corp., Springfield Technical Community College’s Scibelli Enterprise Center and UMass Amherst’s Office of Research Liaison and Development. The cost is $25. To register for the workshop and luncheon, contact Gwen Picanco at 978-934-2405. For more on M2D2, check out www.uml.edu/M2D2.

What: The second annual Foster Care Awareness Day will look at “Education: Challenges for Children, Challenges for the System” with events such as a panel discussion and a Shoe Show. Organizers hope to collect new pairs of shoes for the 11,000 children in foster care in Massachusetts. The shoes will be donated to child welfare agencies that work with the foster care system. For information on donating to the shoe show, e-mail FCAD@uml.edu.

What: Rep. Kevin Murphy, D-Lowell, will speak to the “Law and the Legal System” class about careers in the law and in government. Lowell attorney and UML professor Frank Talty teaches the political science class.